Pneumatic tracker-bar.



PATENTBD EEB. 19, 1907.

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P. WUEST, JR. PNEUMATIC TRACKER BAR.

APPLIUATION FILED JNE 18. 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnicn.

PHILIP WUEST, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTO-MANUAL PIANO ACTION COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEN NSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC TRACKER-BAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP WUEsT, Jr., of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tracker- Bars, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a musical instrument comprising a pneumatic tracker-bar provided with apertures over which perforated webs of paper or similar fabric are progressed to control the operation of pneumatic valves in the instrument. Heretofore such tracker-bars have comprised pieces of wood glued together to embody a series of adjoining rectangular ducts respectively in communication with the adjoining aperytures in the face of the tracker-bar or have comprised a metallic face-plate embodying the series of apertures and directly supporting diverged sheet-metal nozzles in connection with tubes leading to the pneumatic valves in the instrument.

It is the object of my invention to provide a metallic tracker-bar which is more substantial and durable than the wooden structures aforesaid, which may be more readily and economically constructed than the prior metallic tracker-bars aforesaid, and which affords a substantial support for the nozzle terminals of the tubes leading to the valves.

A tracker-bar constructed in accordance with my invention, as hereinafter described, comprises a solid bar of metal having a series of apertures in its front face, the passages of said apertures extending inwardly for a relatively short distance, and a series of straight circular drilled ducts, extending from the opposite face of the bar in substantially parallel relation to said passages at such axial distances as to communicate therewith by lateral intersection of the respective peripheries. Said circular ducts are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the line of apertures, so that their rear ends terminate remote from each other at the rear face of said bar, and nozzles which are permanently secured in and supported by said bar and respeetively connected with tubes leading to t e pneumatic valves in the instrument.

A specific construction of the invention hereinafter described, which simplifies and lessens the cost of manufacture of such tracker-bars, comprises a plurality of front apertures in communication with each circular drilled duct, said apertures being also circular drilled in parallel relation with the ducts and in the same piece of metal, s. 1

My invention comprehends the various novel features of construction and arrange` ment hereinafter more de'linitely specified.

In said drawings, Figure I is a front view of a portion of a tracker-bar conveniently embodying my improvements. Fig. II is a transverse sectional view of said bar, taken on the line II II in Fig. I. Fig. III is a longitudinal sectional view of said bar, taken on the line III III in Figs. I and II. Fig. IV is a front view showing a modified form of bar comprising a plurality of front apertures in communication with each duct. i Fig. V is a transverse sectional view of said bar, taken on the line V V in Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a longitudinal sectional view of said bar, taken on the line VI VI in Fig. V. Fig. VII is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the form of bar shown in Figs. IV, V, and VI.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. I, II, and III, the face-plate 1 is provided with a series of apertures 3, elongated in the direction of the length of said face-plate and of uniform rectangular crosssectional area throughout the thickness of said plate 1.

The solid metal bar 5 is drilled through its front face to form a series of apertures 6 in straight alinement in correspondencewith the series of apertures 3 in the face-plate 1, and said bar 5 is then drilled from the opposite face 7 to form ducts 9 and 10,which respectively communicate laterally With alternate apertures 3 in said face-plate 1, with which they are in parallel relation. The rear ends of said ducts 9 and 10 are conveniently provided with nozzles 12 and 13, which may be tightly driven therein, and then bent so that their rear ends diverge in angular relation to their front ends, so as to receive the terminals of the flexible tubes 15 and 16, leading to the pneumatic valves Within the musical instrument.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. IV, V, and VI the face-plate k1 is omitted and a series of circular apertures 18 are drilled through the front face 19 of the IOO solid metal bar 20. Two series of ducts 22 and 23 are then drilled in said bar from its opposite face 25, so that said ducts respectively communicate with alternate pairs of the apertures le in the front face of the bar. rfhe rear ends of said duets 22 and 23 are provided with nozzles 28 and 29, which are adapted to engage the terminals of the flexible tubes 30 and 3l, leading to the pneumatic valves in the musical instrument.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in lfigs. l to lll, inclusive, the faceplate l anal bar 5 being provided with corresponding apertures 3 and are separately coated with films of sohler, and saiu parts being assembled in proper relation are then permanently connecten by heating them until their soltler-eoaterl surfaces are fused together.

During the soldering operation aforesaid it is of course necessary to maintain said parts in proper relative position by dewelpins or by temporary attaching means, such as wires or clamps. However, the soldering operation aforesaid is dispensed with and the manufacture of the bars facilitated by the construction shown in Figs. lV, V, and Vf. Moreover, the last-named. construction is atlvantageous in that the precise air-inlet area required being predetermined the pairs of apertures 18 may be malle of such size as to continuously afford the desireiit area regarr'lless of lateral ("iisplacement of the pei orations 32 in the note-sheet traversing the bar, for although in the normal relation of the note-sheet and bar the perforation 32, as shown by the dotted circle in Fig. Vll, passes over the apertures 1S in the bar, so as to uncover part of each aperture of a pair, substantially the saine inlet area is afforued when the perforation in the note-sheet is laterally displaced, as indicated by the clotanrl-flash line 33 in Fig. Vfl.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the details of my invention without departing from its essential features. Therefore l Clo not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth.

I claim l. ln a tracker-bar, a metallic bar comprising a series of apertures in its front face, the passages of sairi apertures extending inwarily for a relatively short di' stance and a series of straight circular (lrlllelA ducts eX- tenfling from the rear of the bar in substantially parallel relation to saiil passages, but at such axal distances therefrom as to communicate laterally therewith, by intersecl tion of the respective periph'eries, substantially as set forth.

2. ln a tracker-bar, a metallic bar coniprising a series of apertures in its front face, the passages of sai i apertures extenning in- 'waraly for a relatively short cistance, and two series of straight circular cillerl eucts extenuing from the rear of the bar in substantially parallel relation to saiit passages, but at such axial distances therefrom as to communicate laterally with the passages of alternate apertures, by intersection of the respective peripheixes, substantially as set forth.

ln a tracker-bar, a metallfc bar comprising a series of apertures in its front face, the passages of sain. apertures exteneing inwaruly for a relatively short eistanee, two series of straight circular eiLlleil eucts exteneing from the rear of the bar in substantially 'parallel relation to saiat passages, but at such aX-al eistances therefrom as to communicate laterally with 'the passages of alters ,;ective peripheries anu nozzles fitted in the rear enes of saiu. cucts, substantially as t set forth.

4. In a tracker-bar, the combination with a series of apertures in the front face of said bar; of a seizes of ciucts in sairt bar, each (Luct being common to two of saiuv apertures, substantially as set forth.

5. ln a tracker-bar, the combination with a series of apertures in "h tire front face of sait'i bar of eucts in saii bar each in communication with a pair of aiijoining apertures, substantially as set forth.

6. ln a tracker-bar, the combination with a series of circular apertures in the front face of said. bar, of a serfes of circular eucts in sairl bar, each duct being common to two of said apertures, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a tracker-bar having a series of apertures in its face; of ducts in said bar each communicating with a pair of ailjaeent apertures; and a noteslieet having openings aflapteil to register with sairl pairs of apertures in the relation specific," whereby, within the limits of complete displacement of the note-sheet, a uniform communication with sairl ducts is afl'orzleil substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto sfgnezl my name, at Philaflelphia, Pennsylvania, this 9th (lay of June, 1904-.

PHILIP WUEST, Jn.

litnessesz ARTHUR E. Pixies, E. L. FULLERTON.

nate apertures, by intersection of the re- IIO 

